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Thursday, 12 November 2015

The Tomorrow HeistMonarch, #2by Jack SorenGenre: Fiction/Thrillers/TechnologicalPublisher: HarperCollins/Witness ImpulseReaders looking for twisting, fast-paced suspense will be swept away by Jack Soren’s newest tale of thrilling international adventure...Jonathan Hall and Lew Katchbrow intended to leave life as international art thieves behind them-if only the money hadn’t run out. But when a shadowy organization approaches the duo offering compensation, protection, and prestige in exchange for their skills, Jonathan and Lew think it’s the answer to their problems…But the nightmare has only just begun.Suddenly Jonathan and Lew are thrust headlong into a race against time and a technology that science says shouldn’t exist. With the very nature of life and death on Earth hanging in the balance, it’s up to Jonathan and Lew to discover the truth behind Ashita—a terrifying futuristic city in the depths of the Pacific Ocean—and stop it. But the clock is ticking. If Jonathan and Lew fail this heist, millions will die—and the human race will never be the same.

Before becoming a thriller novelist, Jack wrote software manuals, drove a cab and spent six months as a really terrible private investigator. His debut novel The Monarch was nominated for the Kobo Emerging Writer national book award. He lives in the Toronto area.

The main characters for my Monarch series (The Monarch and The Tomorrow Heist) met years ago when they were both disenchanted with their own attempts to make a difference in the world. Jonathan Hall is an ex-spy and Lew Katchbrow is an ex-soldier. Together they become known as the master art thief, The Monarch.

Q. What is the best advice you have been given?

Finish what you start. So many writers second-guess themselves and end up killing projects before they’re done. As Hemingway said, “the first draft of anything is shit”. But you need to get that first draft down. Then you can revise and hone and polish.

Q. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?

I much prefer physical books to ebooks, but I have been coming around lately. That said, if I had a choice I’d probably always choose physical. It’s a different reading experience.

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

In a new America where almost no one can be trusted, Caroline Gerard lies
unconscious in a government hospital as others decide her fate. She is a
political dissident, wanted for questioning by a brutal regime that has come to
power. As she recovers from her injuries, all she has are her memories of a
rich and beautiful past.

What does it take to heal a broken heart?

As Caroline clings to life her thoughts drift to before the regime, when she
was a rising star in the House of Representatives, widowed, and raising two
precocious children. She remembers her unexpected attraction to fellow
politician playboy Jack McIntyre. Jack captures her attention with his rakish
grin, disarming attitude, and dry wit, and soon their friendship blossoms into
much more.

Who can you trust?

Under the new political system, Caroline doesn't know what to believe, even her
own vivid memories. Is the life she led real, or just a mirage? And is Jack
truly the one to help her move on? Or are they just pawns in a political power
play?

The Bellator Saga is a six part series. Each full length novel ends in a
cliffhanger. For readers 18+. This saga contains adult situations, including
non-gratuitous violence, explicit (consensual) sex, psychological and physical
trauma, and an oftentimes dark plot.

My heroine, Caroline, is a bit quirky. Highly intelligent, a little
irreverent…when we first meet her in Dissident we discover that she’s had a
rough year. Recently widowed, she’s made some poor decisions while on the
campaign trail, including making some none too charitable comments about our
hero, Jack. But she makes amends, and demonstrates rather quickly that she’s
likable, sympathetic, and compelling. A series like this depends on a
captivating heroine or it will fail. And in Conscience, she demonstrates
overwhelming strength and resolve in almost unbearable circumstances. She
really carries the second book, though we’re still treated to plenty of Jack.

Jack breaks a lot
of molds. When we first meet him in Dissident, he isn’t terribly likable. But
he continues to evolve over the course of the series, largely because of his
relationship with Caroline. He is not a perfect man, and he and Caroline have
to take time to learn to communicate and form a partnership. But that’s the
beautiful part of the evolution of their relationship over the course of the
first two books, seeing how they come together to support and love one another
no matter the circumstances. He is sexy, kind, and loving, but can also be a
pure, delicious, devoted alpha male (without going over the top). I love Jack.

And their
relationship with each other is…well…you’ll have to read to find out! The first
book is pretty much contemporary romance blended with suspense, political
fiction, and speculative/dystopian fiction, but later installments come closer
to erotic romance. And Jack and Caroline are always there, bound to each other.

Q: Who designs the
covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?

I design my own
covers. I suppose that could change down the road, but I dig them so far. I
have different covers for ebook and print, demonstrating both the romantic and
darker elements in the books.

Q: Describe your ideal
writing spot.

Right now it’s a
tossup between the recliner in our living room (where my laptop is located) and
our home office (where my brain is usually located). LOL!

Q: What is the best advice you have been given?

Just keep swimming.

Q: As a child, what
did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lawyer, and I also wanted to be an author. Technically, I’ve
now done both, which is kind of cool.

Q: Which do you
prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
It depends. When I want something very quickly, I reach for my Kindle. But if
it’s a book or series I adore, I need hard copies.

Q: If you could be any
paranormal creature, what would you choose to be and why?
A Pegasus. I’d better be sentient, though! Flying at my leisure would be
wonderful.

Q: What book are you
reading now?

Well, if this is
posted during the beginning of November, I’m definitely reading The Queen, the
last installment in Tiffany Reisz’s phenomenal Original Sinners series.
Otherwise I’m probably reading and editing my December release.

Monday, 9 November 2015

Dragon on Top is the second book I have read in the Dragon Kin series. It is what I have come to expect from G.A. Aiken...plenty action, playful banter, interesting characters, and steamy love scenes. What a winning combination!

Glheanna is known as the Decimator for good reason. She is one fierce dragoness on the battlefront and off...an unrelenting warrior trained since a hatchling. Why then is Glheanna cowering in her cave, drowning her sorrows away? One insignificant dragon will not keep Glheanna down long, especially since Queen Rhiannon has a mission for her. Bram is a quiet dragon who enjoys reading and is well skilled at brokering alliances. He is the exact opposite of Glheanna who kills first and then asks questions. Bram and Glheanna will have to learn to work together to secure a truce for their queen. Will they be able to complete their task? Will they test the theory that opposites do attract?

Glheanna loves fighting whether it be the enemy or her family. She knows no other way. Glheanna and her siblings enjoy taunting each other, but in the end they will always protect one another. Bram may be known as the Merciful, but even he has his limits. The good natured teasing between Glheanna, Bram and the other characters is what makes this a fun read. I would definitely recommend it.

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Yancy Lazarus is having a bad day: there’s a bullet lodged in his butt cheek, his face looks like the site of a demolition derby, and he’s been saran-wrapped to a banquet table. He never should have answered the phone. Stupid bleeding heart—helping others in his circles is a good way to get dead.

Just ask the gang members ripped to pieces by some kind of demonic nightmare in LA. As a favor to a friend, Yancy agrees to take a little looksee into the massacre and boom, he’s stuck in a turf war between two rival gangs, which both think he’s pinch-hitting for the other side. Oh, and there’s also a secretive dark mage with some mean ol’ magical chops and a small army of hyena-faced, body-snatching baddies. It might be time to seriously reconsider some of his life choices.

Yancy is a bluesman, a rambler, a gambler, but not much more. Sure, he can do a little magic—maybe even more than just a little magic—but he knows enough to keep his head down and stay clear of freaky-deaky hoodoo like this business in LA. Somehow though, he’s been set up to take a real bad fall—the kind of very permanent fall that leaves a guy with a toe tag. Unless, of course, he can find out who is responsible for the gangland murders, make peace in the midst of the gang feud, and take out said dark mage before he hexes Yancy into an early retirement. Easy right? Stupid. Bleeding. Heart.

Hey all, my name is James Hunter and I’m a writer, among other things. So just a little about me: I’m a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). I’m also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—‘cause that’s a real thing. And, a space-ship captain, can’t forget that.

Q & A with James HunterHey all, my name is James Hunter and I’m a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). I’m also an Urban Fantasy writer—not that you’ll catch me making that confession in public. I’m the author of the Yancy Lazarus series, which revolves around the adventures and various shenanigans of Yancy Lazarus, a magical, wet-works man turned rambling blues hound. I’d like to thank Sheri and the folks from the Shut Up & Read Group on Goodreads for having me on their blog.

1. Describe your ideal writing spot. My home is the worst place to write: far too many distractions. Ideally, any place that has coffee will work and if it doesn’t have internet, all the better. The internet—with its Youtube and Facebook—is a vicious time thief, constantly seeking to bog me down with its endless entertainment and distraction. *Shakes fist at internet*

2. Who designed the covers for your book and what was that process like for you as the author? Although I love the covers for all my books, Strange Magic is hands down my favorite—it has an iconic look that perfectly sums up the series. All of my covers were designed by the great folks over at EBookLaunch.com (Dane, specifically), though with quite a lot of input on my part. I picked out all the photos (cover model, magical effects, background), explained the general layout and vision for each cover, then left the execution in the hands of people far more capable than me.

3. What is the best advice you have been given? As a writer, you need to give your first draft permission to suck. Like really suck. My first book (which was a terrible high/epic fantasy novel) took four years to write because I had to try to make everything perfect before I moved on. These days, I sit down, get the first draft out as quickly as possible—knowing there are going to be issues—and then address the suckiness during the editing phase. That advice has really revolutionized writing for me and has made it far more enjoyable.

4. How do you keep busy when you're not writing? Right now, I’m a stay at home father with a toddler, and boy let me tell you toddlers are a crazy-pants amount of work. My little girl is a beautiful, awesome, destructive ball of chaos, dedicated to undoing anything I attempt to do. When I’m not doing housework, cooking, watching my baby girl, or writing, I really enjoy reading and sleep—generally in that order.

5. If you could have any superhuman ability, what would you choose and why? I’d take the “freeze-time” ability. I mean invisibility or the ability to fly would be crazy-cool, but I sure could use a couple more hours in the day. A few extra hours to get stuff done while my toddler is frozen, and thus unable to destroy all my efforts to bring order and sanity to my home. Plus, more time to write.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks? I’ve got to admit I have a soft spot for paperbacks—there’s just something cathartic in holding a book in your hands. The way it feels under your fingers, the way the pages smell. I love books. With that said, most of my reading is now done on my Kindle. True, I love physical books, but I also love how inexpensive ebooks are, not to mention the ability to carry around an entire library in my pocket is totally amazing.

7. What book are you reading now? Currently, I’m reading Craig Schaefer’s Redemption Song (Daniel Faust Book 2), another in a long line of very well-written, urban-fantasy novels with a noir feel. If you’re a fan of gritty, fun Urban Fantasy, then I’d highly recommend the Daniel Faust Series.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

I was so happy to be back in Verity's world. Angie Fox has a another winner with The Skeleton in the Closet which is the second book in the Southern Ghost Hunter series. If you are looking for a funny, suspense-filled, paranormal romance that you will have a hard time putting down, then this is the book for you.

Verity is still adjusting to her status as social pariah and her new abilities as a Ghost Whisperer. It doesn't help that the Matriarch of the Social Elite, who just happens to be her ex-fiancé's mother, has made it her personal mission to ruin Verity. Fun times! Verity does have her sister, a few friends which include ghosts, a pet skunk and a budding relationship with one hot deputy sheriff, who just happens to be the brother of her ex. What more could a girl ask for...maybe a steady paycheck? Sugarland is preparing for their annual historical celebration which promises to be the biggest social event of the year. They will not let the murder of one of their own put a damper on the festivities. Verity, with the help of her ghost friends, wants to find out who killed her friend. Can she find out who the killer is before they strike again?

Verity has not let her current financial situation get her down. She is one spunky character with a good sense of humor. Frankie is one cantankerous ghost, but he is a big help when it comes to Verity's investigations. What an interesting cast of characters the author has created! It had me at times laughing out loud and other times on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what mystery Verity has to solve next. I would definitely recommend this book and the series.